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Author: William A. Jacobson

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William A. Jacobson

William A. Jacobson is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School.

He is a 1981 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1984 graduate of Harvard Law School. At Harvard he was Senior Editor of the Harvard International Law Journal and Director of Litigation for the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project.

Prior to joining the Cornell law faculty in 2007, Professor Jacobson had a highly successful civil litigation and arbitration practice in Providence, Rhode Island, concentrating in investment, employment, and business disputes in the securities industry, including many high profile cases reported in leading newspapers and magazines.

Professor Jacobson has argued cases in numerous federal and state courts, including the Courts of Appeal for the First, Fifth and Sixth Circuits, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Professor Jacobson has a national reputation as a leading practitioner in securities arbitration. He was Treasurer, and is a former member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, a professional organization of attorneys dedicated to protecting public investors. He frequently is quoted in national media on issues related to investment fraud and investor protection, and in the past has served as one of a small number of private practice attorneys who trained new arbitrators for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Professor Jacobson is co-author of the Securities Arbitration Desk Reference (Thomson-Reuters), updated annually.

Professor Jacobson is frequently quoted in the media on political and legal topics, has authored many Op-Eds in major publications, and appears on television and radio to discuss politics and the law.

A more complete listing of Professor Jacobson's professional background is available at the Cornell Law School website. The views expressed here are his own and not those of any employer or organization,

The best way to reach Prof. Jacobson is by e-mail here.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 15, 2012 43 Comments

The big news in the Trayvon Martin case, ABC News Exclusive: Zimmerman Medical Report Shows Broken Nose, Lacerations After Trayvon Martin Shooting: A medical report compiled by the family physician of accused Trayvon Martin murderer George Zimmerman and obtained exclusively by ABC News found that Zimmerman...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 15, 2012 22 Comments

There is a common misconception that Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic nominee for Senate against Scott Brown. She is not. There is a primary contest on September 6.  And the only other announced candidate just filed her petitions: U.S. Senate candidate Marisa DeFranco will drop off more than...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 15, 2012 38 Comments

The War on Women.  The Longest Football Spike Since The Great Depression. Slow jamming.  Julia.  Show me the money Gay marriage .  Inserting his own bio into the bios of other presidents. It's one shiny object after another. Does it ever stop with this guy? Hopefully recent polling becomes...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 15, 2012 55 Comments

On April 30, 2012, The Boston Globe broke the story that Chris Child of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) had located information about a marriage license showing that Elizabeth's great-great-great grandmother was Cherokee, Document ties Warren kin to Cherokees: A record unearthed Monday shows that US Senate...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 15, 2012 71 Comments

Huh? you say.  Pay attention, you'll get an education like I just did. Andrew Bolt of the Herald Sun in Australia  linked to one of my Elizabeth Warren posts in his post titled, Cherokee no more.  The following sentences at the end of his post jumped out at...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 15, 2012 7 Comments

I have noticed a lot of homemade bumper stickers lately. From reader Jeff: Mr. Jacobson - I have posted a bumper sticker before. Here is one I had made up after reading some comments by Charles Krauthammer. This one is on my car and seems attract some attention...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 14, 2012 19 Comments

From The NY Times, Poll Sees Obama Gay Marriage Support Motivated by Politics: Most Americans suspect that President Obama was motivated by politics, not policy, when he declared his support for same-sex marriage, according to a new poll released on Monday, suggesting that the unplanned way...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 14, 2012 20 Comments

Via HotAir, a new poll out has Scott Walker up by 9 points in the Wisconsin recall against Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, with almost no one undecided: While other polls also show Walker in the lead, no one is suggesting that this race is anywhere near over....

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 14, 2012 11 Comments

Today.  But, but you say, wasn't it already celebrated on April 26? Yes, but that's according to the Hebrew calendar.  May 14, 1948, was the date under the Christian calendar of actual independence (photo via Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs): It's also the day the Arabs of...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 14, 2012 32 Comments

That's the name of a Twitter account which has been active throughout the Indiana primary, and it certainly hit the mark: Lots of telephone calls were flying between politicians on election night. Treasurer Richard Mourdock said he has received numerous calls congratulating him on his win in...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 14, 2012 10 Comments

for all they've done for you?  You better hope the watchman doesn't see this. From reader stevewhitemd: I saw this truck while driving to work earlier this week. I was stopped at the light, honest. Took the photos with my iPhone so the quality isn't the best....

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 13, 2012 29 Comments

Solyndra's LEED certified 400,000+ sq ft. facility in Fremont, California, has been for sale since mid-April. Reader Ann was driving by the building today, and just couldn't help but snap a photo: Update:  Thanks to commenter Liberty Jane for clarifying the image: ...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 13, 2012 12 Comments

or if he is just a true believer. I know the answer.  It's who he is. Unlike gay marriage, where he was willling to play the game, publicly taking positions based on what helped him with voters or donors, when it comes to class warfare as political...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 13, 2012 11 Comments

Can I hold you to that promise? From Kathy, looks like it came from the same vehicle as yesterday's post: ...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 12, 2012 16 Comments

Barack Obama crushed John McCain in Michigan in 2008, 57.33%-40.89%. Obama must win Michigan in 2012, it's part of every scenario for him to get to 270: Yet a poll just released in the Detroit News shows Obama up by only 5 points over Romney, via The Hill: President Obama...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on May 12, 2012 28 Comments

Via The Daily Mail (Britain): Police chiefs have banned the word ‘blacklist’ over fears it is racist. They have also struck out its opposite – ‘whitelist’ – which is used by IT workers for a list of acceptable email contacts. Scotland Yard employees have been told to use...

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